Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Jeff Ikler
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Curiosity sits at the intersection of creativity, effective human interactions, problem-solving and purposeful change. Unfortunately, the pace of life — at home, work, and school — often sidetracks our natural curiosity. So, let's see the familiar from a different angle or something new as a possibility to consider.

  1. 4D AGO

    How Do Memorials Engage Visitors Physically and Mentally?

    Guest Dr. James E. Young is Distinguished University Professor of English and Judaic Studies Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he has taught since 1988, and Founding Director of the Institute forHolocaust, Genocide, and Memory Studies at UMass Amherst. Professor Young is the author of Writing and Rewriting the Holocaust (Indiana University Press, 1988), The Texture of Memory (Yale University Press, 1993), which won the National Jewish Book Award in 1994, At Memory's Edge: After-images of the Holocaust in Contemporary Art and Architecture (Yale University Press, 2000), and The Stages of Memory: Reflections on Memorial Art, Loss, and the Spaces Between (University of Massachusetts Press, 2016), which won the National Council for PublicHistory Book Award for 2017. Professor Young is a frequent consultant and judge on proposed memorials. Co-host Irene Stern Frielich was a guest on Episode 370: "Walking Where History Happened: A Daughter's Holocaust Journey." Irene is the daughter of a German Jewish Holocaust survivor—but for much of her life, the story remained unspoken. In 2017, after rediscovering her father's testimony, Irene set out to physically retrace his escape route from Nazi Germany through his survival in Holland. The result was a journey of reconciliation and healing. Her award-winning memoir, Shattered Stars, Healing Hearts, explores trauma, courage, and connection across generations. Summary Dr. James Young explores how memorials differ from monuments and how they shape collective memory. While monuments are often static and fixed, memorials are dynamic, experiential spaces that invite visitors to engage emotionally and physically—becoming part of what Dr. Young calls the "performance" of memory. Drawing on examples such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Holocaust memorials, and the 9/11 Memorial, Dr. Young explains that the most effective memorials balance abstraction and history, allowing visitors to interpret meaning across generations. He emphasizes that powerful designs avoid prescribing a single emotional response; instead, they open space for reflection, discomfort, and personal connection. Dr. Young also highlights the importance of naming individuals, noting that listing victims humanizes loss and magnifies its scale. He discusses innovative approaches like "meaningful adjacencies" at the 9/11 Memorial and decentralized memorials such as Stolpersteine (stumbling stones), which embed remembrance into everyday life and create ongoing engagement. A recurring theme is "living memory"—memorials that evolve through participation, maintenance, and reinterpretation by future generations. Dr. Young acknowledges the tension in memorializing tragedies in which communities no longer exist, stressing the need to restore not just the absence but the lives once lived. Ultimately, he invites visitors to approach memorials with openness, allowing their own emotional responses to deepen understanding of history and self. The Essential Point The most powerful memorials don't dictate meaning—they create spaces where visitors actively experience, interpret, and carry forward memory in ways that remain meaningful across generations. Social Media Occupied Words: What the Holocaust Did to Yiddish

    1h 1m

  2. MAY 5

    Working to Find Common Ground on Public Lands Amid Competing Interests

    Guest Minnesota native Aaron Hebeisen grew up hunting, fishing, and recreating outdoors. His lifelong passion for wildlife led him to earn an Animal Ecology degree from Iowa State University. He has worked for the Minnesota Conservation Corps, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on wildlife disease research, and is now the Field Operations Coordinator with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, supporting chapters in 10 states across the Midwest and the southern U.S. Summary This episode explores the meaning, management, and future of public lands in the United States. The discussion begins by defining public lands—roughly 640 million federally managed acres overseen by agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service—and emphasizes their "multiple-use" mandate, balancing recreation, resource extraction, and conservation. Aaron highlights BHA's mission to advocate for these lands on behalf of all users, not just hunters and anglers, framing Americans as "public landowners" with both rights and responsibilities. A key theme is the complexity of land and water access, illustrated through conflicts over stream access laws in states like Illinois, where differing definitions of "navigability" create legal gray areas and tension among stakeholders. The conversation also examines policy advocacy, including coalition-building, lobbying, and navigating bipartisan politics. Aaron describes BHA's approach as "radically purple"—engaged but nonpartisan—focused on finding common ground across competing interests. A major case study is the rollback of mining protections near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area via H.R. 140, which Aaron argues could set a precedent for weakening environmental safeguards nationwide. Despite such challenges, the episode remains grounded in a broader philosophical reflection: public lands are a uniquely American inheritance that fosters personal connection, humility, and stewardship. Ultimately, Aaron underscores that protecting these lands requires active civic engagement—if people don't participate, they risk losing access to what is collectively theirs. A key takeaway Public lands belong to all of us, but their future depends on whether people actively engage in protecting them—through stewardship, advocacy, and participation in the political process. References / Links Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Beyond Fair Chase: The Ethic and Tradition of Hunting LinkedIn Instagram Facebook

    57 min

  3. APR 28

    From Insight to Action: How Real Change Actually Happens

    Guest Ashley Jablow (Jab-lo, pronouns: she/her) is the founder of Wayfinders Collective and creator of Life Design School, a creative studio for people in career and life transition. A seasoned facilitator, speaker, coach, and design strategist, Ashley blends design thinking and innovation, emotional intelligence, and creative tools to spark clarity and action for teams and individuals navigating change. She's also the artist and author of 100 Days of Designing My Life, a guided journal series for reflection and reinvention, and the creator of "The Little Deck of Sweet Reflections", an intuitive card deck to inspire your creativity, connect with your inner wisdom, and reflect on who you are becoming. Summary In this conversation, Ashley reflects on the pivotal career transitions that shaped her work as a coach, facilitator, and innovation practitioner. She describes several moments of feeling "stuck," including graduating from business school without a job, working in prestigious roles at IDEO and the White House during the Barack Obama administration, and later being unexpectedly laid off from what she believed was her dream job. Rather than viewing those experiences as failures, Ashley explains how they became turning points that led her toward coaching and helping others navigate difficult transitions. A central theme of the discussion is the relationship between reflection and action. Ashley argues that meaningful change requires both deep self-understanding and practical movement forward. Drawing from her background in coaching and design thinking, she describes how innovation, creativity, and human-centered leadership intersect. For her, reflection without action leads nowhere, while action without reflection risks solving the wrong problem. The conversation also explores leadership development, trust, vulnerability, and the challenge leaders face in shifting from doing the work themselves to empowering others. Ashley emphasizes that the "people stuff" — culture, trust, communication, and values — must be addressed before productive organizational change can happen. She closes with an important reminder: when people feel stuck, creativity, play, and joy are not distractions but essential pathways to movement and renewal. Ultimately, our conversation highlights the grit, interdependence, and adaptability required to survive in the historic West. A key takeaway Being stuck is not a dead end but often the beginning of transformation. Real progress comes from pairing honest self-reflection with concrete action, while staying grounded in humanity, trust, and joy. References / Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyjablow/ https://www.instagram.com/ashleyjablow/ The Power of Onlyness by Nilofer Merchant

    57 min

  4. APR 21

    How Can Schools and Communities Collaborate to Prevent Bullying

    My guest Dr. Shileste Overton Morris serves as the Chief Programs Officer at the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit and the Director of the Center for Schools and Communities. The Center delivers national, state, local, and international services that build capacity in schools, districts, and organizations supporting children, youth, and families.  Dr. Overton Morris' expertise includes strategic leadership, parent engagement, belonging, and education leadership.  She serves on multiple statewide and national boards. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Temple University, College of Education and Human Development.  Summary In this episode, Dr. Overton Morris discusses the complex and evolving nature of bullying in schools, emphasizing that it is less about individual "bad actors" and more about systemic conditions and power dynamics. Drawing on decades of experience in school safety and social-emotional development, she explains that bullying involves repeated behavior and an imbalance of power, now amplified by technology and social media, which extend harm beyond school hours and increase its reach and permanence. Dr. Overton Morris highlights that modern bullying includes not only physical and verbal aggression but also relational aggression—such as exclusion, rumor-spreading, and digital harassment. She underscores how adolescents' underdeveloped executive functioning contributes to impulsive and harmful online behavior, sometimes with serious legal consequences. A central theme is that effective prevention requires a comprehensive, consistent, whole-school approach. Schools that implement structured frameworks—such as social-emotional learning, positive behavior supports, and restorative practices—can significantly reduce bullying. These approaches depend on aligned adult behavior, proactive monitoring, and a strong, inclusive school climate. She also stresses the importance of equipping all school personnel—not just teachers—to recognize warning signs and intervene early. For parents, active listening, observation, and partnership with schools are key. Ultimately, Dr. Overton Morris argues that bullying prevention is "adult work": it depends on the environments adults create, the behaviors they model, and their willingness to consistently address harmful conduct. Takeaways Bullying prevention isn't about reacting to incidents—it's about intentionally creating environments where bullying is less likely to occur, which depends on consistent, aligned adult behavior and system-wide commitment. Links LinkedIn Center for Schools and Community Referenced Interview with Dr. Dana Milakovic: Nurturing the Emotionally Safe School Environment Leading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture that Brings out the Best in People by Dr. Donna Hicks The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Trauma in the Schools podcast series

    52 min

  5. APR 14

    410: What Did We Learn From Crashing Into an Asteroid on Purpose?

    Guests Dr. Carolyn Ernst is a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), specializing in the surface evolution of planets, moons, and small bodies. She has contributed to missions across the solar system and has extensive experience in imaging systems. Dr. Ernst helped NASA impact both a comet and an asteroid, serving as instrument scientist for the DRACO imager and a member of the investigation team on the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. She is currently on the science teams for Europa Clipper, Dragonfly, Hayabusa2, and Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) missions. She is also a member of the European Space Agency's Hera mission team, which will return to the Didymos system for close-range characterization of the asteroids and the outcome of the DART impact. Michelle Chen is a software systems engineer and project manager at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland. Her work centers on developing and integrating advanced technologies for spacecraft and prototype systems. Chen led the SMART Nav team for NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, where their autonomous navigation algorithm enabled the world's first spacecraft impact with an asteroid for planetary defense. Her career spans multisector projects, including the development of advanced prosthetic limbs, optical navigation systems, data acquisition platforms, and missile simulations. Chen's technical expertise includes real-time embedded software, image processing, control systems, and system-level integration. Summary The conversation explores the success and implications of NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), the first mission designed to test whether a spacecraft could intentionally alter an asteroid's trajectory. Engineers and scientists collaborated to send a kinetic impactor into Dimorphos, a small asteroid orbiting the larger asteroid Didymos, demonstrating planetary defense capabilities. A key innovation was the spacecraft's autonomous navigation system, which guided it during the final approach using onboard imaging from the DRACO camera. Because scientists had never seen Dimorphos up close, engineers relied on extensive simulations to prepare for unknown conditions. The mission exceeded expectations: instead of shortening the asteroid's orbit by 7 seconds, it achieved a 33-second reduction, largely due to unexpected ejecta that amplified the impact force. The discussion highlights how asteroid detection and tracking systems—coordinated by organizations such as the Minor Planet Center and international networks—identify potential threats, refine orbital predictions, and communicate risks. Early detection remains critical, as effective deflection requires years of preparation. Beyond the technical achievement, the guests emphasize interdisciplinary teamwork, where engineers and scientists continuously exchanged insights and made compromises to balance navigation precision with scientific data collection. The mission underscores the importance of experimentation over theoretical modeling alone and serves as a powerful example of how collaborative, cross-disciplinary work can address global challenges while inspiring future generations in STEM. The Essential Point The mission's core insight is that planetary defense is not theoretical—it is achievable—but only through early detection, real-world experimentation, and deep collaboration across scientific and engineering disciplines. Social Media & Referenced New York Times: NASA Smashes Into an Asteroid, Completing a Mission to Save a Future Day D.A.R.T. project overview and impact videos ">   ">   April 6, 2026

    36 min

  6. APR 7

    How Do Unspoken Family Histories Shape Who We Become?

    Guest Carol Tyler, known for her beautifully written and drawn autobiographical comics, is one of the most important and influential comics artists ever. In July 2026, she will be inducted into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame at Comic-Con. Her books are: Soldier's Heart: The Campaign to Understand my WWII Veteran Father (2015), and Fab4 Mania: A Beatles Obsession and the Concert of a Lifetime (2018). Her current book is in two parts: The Ephemerata, Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief, September 2025. Part II Verdante, The Ephemerata Goes Home, due in 2026. Summary In this conversation, Carol Tyler discusses her graphic memoir Soldier's Heart, a deeply personal work that blends visual storytelling with narrative to explore her father's World War II experiences and their lasting impact on her family. She explains that graphic memoir is not simply illustrated text but a deliberate interplay between words and images, where each medium carries distinct emotional and informational weight. Tyler developed a unique visual language—through color palettes, panel styles, and composition—to distinguish timelines, perspectives, and emotional states. The project began when her father, late in life, unexpectedly opened up about his wartime experiences, prompting Tyler to document his stories through recorded interviews. These revelations coincided with crises in her own family, including her mother's stroke, her daughter's mental health struggles, and strain in her marriage. As a result, the memoir evolved into a broader exploration of intergenerational trauma, linking her father's unprocessed war experiences—what might now be recognized as PTSD—to patterns of anxiety, depression, and OCD across generations. Tyler reflects on how World War II shaped not only individual veterans but an entire culture, influencing family dynamics, gender roles, and societal behavior in the decades that followed. While the book brought some understanding and partial reconciliation, her relationship with her father remained complex, especially as he aged and regressed emotionally. Ultimately, the memoir serves as both historical preservation and personal reckoning, capturing stories that might otherwise have been lost. A key reflection Unprocessed trauma—especially from war—doesn't end with the individual; it reverberates across generations, shaping families, relationships, and even culture in ways that often remain unseen until deliberately examined. Social Media & Referenced Soldier's Heart Carol Tyler—Pages and Progress video

    1h 11m

  7. MAR 31

    What Do We Still Get Wrong About Wolves?

    Guest Amaroq Weiss is the Senior Wolf Advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity. A biologist and former attorney, she has worked on wolf recovery and conservation advocacy at the state and federal levels across the country for nearly 30 years. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online activists dedicated to protecting endangered species and wild places. Summary This episode features Amaroq Weiss, senior wolf advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, in a wide-ranging conversation about wolf conservation, public perception, and coexistence. Weiss traces her path from a childhood fascination with wildlife to a career blending science, law, and advocacy, shaped by influential books and mentorship. The discussion centers on the persistent vilification of wolves, rooted in cultural narratives imported from Europe and reinforced by modern media and political interests. Weiss argues that wolf hatred is largely learned—and therefore reversible—emphasizing that most Americans actually support wolf protections. She explains how wolves are often scapegoats for broader tensions around government regulation, while misconceptions about their behavior fuel fear. Ecologically, wolves function as keystone species, regulating prey populations, promoting biodiversity, and even helping control disease. Economically, they contribute to tourism and can reduce costly deer-vehicle collisions. To avoid conflicts with livestock and enable coexistence, Weiss outlines a range of effective non-lethal strategies—such as removing attractants, using guard animals, and modifying ranching practices. The episode also explores the ethical and intrinsic value of wolves, beyond their economic and ecological value. Weiss urges listeners to challenge misinformation, advocate for science-based policy, and recognize wolves as sentient beings with a right to exist. Ultimately, she frames conservation as a long-term, multi-generational effort requiring shifts in both mindset and behavior. The Essential Point The core of Amaroq's argument is that our conflict with wolves is less about the animals themselves and more about legacy beliefs and practices that can be changed through education, policy, and a willingness to coexist. Social Media & Referenced www.biologicaldiversity.org https://www.facebook.com/CenterforBioDiv https://waleslit.com/authors/amaroq-weiss/ Of Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez Wolf Wars by Hank Fisher Lone Wolf by Adam Weymouth 60 Minutes: The Wolves of Yellowstone

    1h 19m

  8. MAR 24

    Why Might the Arts Teach the Holocaust More Powerfully Than History Alone?

    Guest Karen Berman, Ph.D., Chaired the Department of Theatre and Dance at Georgia College and previously taught for 15 years at Georgetown University. She is Dean Emerita, College of Fellows of the American Theatre; Past President of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education; Director of 150 Holocaust and other theatre productions; and winner of the Georgia Governor's Award for the Arts and the Hillel Heroes Award. Karen is co-Artistic Director of Washington Women in Theatre. She is the co-author with Dr. Gail Humphries of the two-volume work, Stories of the Holocaust: Art for Healing and Renewal. Co-host Irene Stern Frielich was a guest on Episode 370: "Walking Where History Happened: A Daughter's Holocaust Journey." Irene is the daughter of a German Jewish Holocaust survivor—but for much of her life, the story remained unspoken. In 2017, after rediscovering her father's testimony, Irene set out to physically retrace his escape route from Nazi Germany through his survival in Holland. The result was a journey of reconciliation and healing. Her award-winning memoir, Shattered Stars, Healing Hearts, explores trauma, courage, and connection across generations. Summary In this episode, Jeff and co-host Irene Stern Frielich speak with Dr. Karen Berman about the role of the arts in Holocaust education and remembrance. Dr. Berman discusses her five-year project to co-edit two volumes featuring 33 contributors who explore how theater, music, visual art, and film illuminate the Holocaust and its aftermath. The books argue that the arts can foster empathy, healing, and social responsibility while inspiring people to become "upstanders" who actively oppose hate and injustice. The conversation explores how artistic expression functioned as both resistance and survival during the Holocaust. A powerful example is the performance of Verdi's Requiem in the Theresienstadt concentration camp, where imprisoned singers used music as a form of spiritual defiance against their captors. The discussion also examines how Holocaust education is evolving. Scholars and educators are increasingly shifting from purely historical instruction toward approaches that engage students emotionally and morally through storytelling, performance, and immersive technologies such as virtual reality and holographic survivor testimony. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes that art has the power to humanize history, deepen empathy, and transform audiences into witnesses. By connecting personal stories with creative expression, educators and artists can ensure that Holocaust memory remains meaningful—and that the lessons of history inspire moral action today. The Essential Point The episode emphasizes that art has the power to humanize history, deepen empathy, and transform audiences into witnesses. By connecting personal stories with creative expression, educators and artists can ensure that Holocaust memory remains meaningful—and that the lessons of history inspire moral action today. Social Media Website: Stories of the Holocaust: Art for Healing and Renewal: www.storiesoftheholocaust.com Georgia Governor's Award for the Arts: https://share.google/7ZF1jsonbwuBfMeDr Hillel Heroes Award: https://share.google/AVs09ck8I9RpdVIDb Kirkus Reviews Stories of the Holocaust: Art for Healing and Renewal. Volume I https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/karen-berman/stories-of-the-holocaust/ Stories of the Holocaust: Art for Healing and Renewal. Volume II https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/karen-berman/stories-of-the-holocaust-2/ Substack LinkedIn Referenced Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín Virtual reality video of a Holocaust survivor revisiting the Majdanek concentration camp: Pilgrim in the Metaverse

    1h 21m
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Curiosity sits at the intersection of creativity, effective human interactions, problem-solving and purposeful change. Unfortunately, the pace of life — at home, work, and school — often sidetracks our natural curiosity. So, let's see the familiar from a different angle or something new as a possibility to consider.

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